Network performance monitoring (NPM) and threat detection across networks like Cisco can get a boost in just a few steps, according to Chris Bloom, NPM product manager for LiveAction Software.
Bloom said in a blog for LiveAction, vendor of information security solutions including LiveWire network security forensics tooling and ThreatEye Network Detection & Response, that the latest Cisco event uncovered several insights.
“The first step is to evaluate its compatibility with your current network environment. Make it a point to test the NPM tools and ensure they seamlessly integrate with your network systems,” Bloom pointed out.
However, customers also need maximum visibility of what’s going on in their network, end to end, even across a hybridised, heterogeneous environment with multiple locations, devices and other variables.
“From the heart of your datacentre to the edges of your network, make sure you’re not missing a beat,” said Bloom.
A strong NPM solution will be able to proactively manage the network, identify potential bottlenecks, and prevent network disruptions. Diagnostic features should be available that help the organisation figure out why things are happening, and solve them in a timely manner.
Yet there’s little point having maximum visibility if it means your network is open to all comers. It needs to remain secure and compliant, through regular patching, updates, vulnerability checks and as it evolves.
“Scalability is a cornerstone of successful network management,” wrote Bloom. “Ensure that your NPM tool can accommodate the network’s expansion, without compromising its efficacy.”
The above steps will underpin network visibility from various vendors, including Cisco, Bloom said.
LiveAction’s LiveNX NPM platform and LiveWire packet analysis solution are suited to monitoring, managing, and troubleshooting Cisco networks as well as any multi-vendor network, he said.
LiveAction network threat detection and response technology was recognised with a Global InfoSec innovation award from Cyber Defense Magazine at this year’s RSA cybersecurity conference.
“Without decrypting or ‘breaking’ encrypted traffic, ThreatEye is unique in its use of real-time network analysis and AI to rapidly detect suspicious behaviour,” said Thomas Pore, senior product director at LiveAction, in announcing the prize.
“Our deep packet dynamics (DPD) looks at more than 150 packet traits and creates a fingerprint of network flows for profiling and anomaly detection.”
( Photo by Adrian Dascal on Unsplash )
